Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
OAK HILL — Oak Hill had a chance to play a spoiler role on Friday.
But Eastern’s duo of Tucker Leist and Boston Webb quickly spoiled the Oaks’ plan before they could even blink.
The Eagles’ duo combined to nearly outscore the Oaks by themselves, totaling 37 points and 15 rebounds between the two as they led the way to a 52-38 victory.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“Me and Boston have a lot of chemistry, and that all started back in the summer by being in the gym and getting shots up alongside Declan [Davis],” Leist said. “I don’t think anybody in our part of the SOC can guard us. Once I saw one shot go in, I just kept shooting.”
The victory gives the Eagles (18-3, 8-1 SOC II) a share of the SOC II title — the program’s first conference championship since 2019.
“Being a guy who grew up and played in this program, it’s really special to bring back a conference title,” Eastern coach Ethan Leist said. “This senior class is certainly going to leave a legacy behind. You want your program to be able to compete every year for a league title, but getting that first one is huge and it’s something that these guys will be able to remember. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Leist and Webb didn’t waste time throwing any jabs at Oak Hill (11-10, 3-6 SOC II). They came out and immediately connected on haymakers.
Leist opened the game from deep, followed by inside buckets from Webb and Declan Davis to jump ahead 7-0. Leist later connected on back-to-back 3’s before Webb hit back-to-back shots from distance to end the first with a 19-8 lead.
“We’ve got offensive weapons across the board, and we’re not shy about shooting the ball if we’re open,” Ethan Leist said. “Games are won and lost on the defensive side, but when you’re hitting shots the way we did in the first quarter, it helps the guys settle in and focus a little more on the defensive side of the ball, considering what’s happening on the offensive side.”
That double-digit lead was a near-constant throughout the rest of the game. Every time Oak Hill felt like it was gaining some steam, Eastern had an answer, whether it was Leist, Webb or Aiden Warner getting to the basket. It led to a 30-19 halftime lead.
“We went through a couple lulls midway through the second quarter and gave him too many offensive rebounds, but I thought our guys did a good job playing defense,” Ethan Leist said. “I think we got a little exhausted after the first quarter, shooting and getting up and down the court like we did. But anytime Oak Hill threw a punch, we responded and you like to see that type of fight from your team.”
Oak Hill opened the second half with buckets from Walker Fowble and Ethan O’Connor to cut the lead to 32-23. But that was the closest the Oaks got throughout the rest of the night.
Leist, Webb and Warner went on a 6-2 run that pushed the lead to 38-25 before closing out the third ahead 42-29 and cruising the rest of the way to victory.
“We’ve lost two games this year, but I think they came at critical points of the season,” Ethan Leist said. “Losing to South Webster early humbled us a little bit, and then losing to Northwest midway through the season was a huge learning lesson. We didn’t play very well, didn’t shoot the ball well and that really showed us that we have to bring it every night, which is something the guys have done ever since. It gave us an identity and we’ve really hit our stride.”
Leist finished with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds, followed by Webb with 17 points and six rebounds for the Eagles. Will Morgan led Oak Hill with 12 points.
Eastern suffered its third loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of Minford, and will play again on Tuesday against Northwest for a chance to claim the outright SOC II championship.
Oak Hill ends its regular season that same evening at home against South Gallia.
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